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South African 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius May Be Out Of Prison In 8 Months
http://www.africaeagle.com/2014/10/south-african-blade-runner-oscar.html
Having spent his first night in prison, Oscar Pistorius can perhaps find some comfort in Judge Thokozile Masipa’s ruling that the court's doors are open to him if he believes he is not being treated fairly.
Masipa sentenced the athlete to five years imprisonment, but in terms of the legislation, he is eligible to apply for correctional supervision after serving about eight months.
Pistorius was also given a three-year suspended sentence for a gun related charge in which he was found guilty of negligently discharging a firearm at the Tasha's restaurant.
The blade runner was found guilty of culpable homicide last month for the Valentine’s Day shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Judge Masipa says the Correctional Services Department is guided by the Constitution, which ensures Pistorius’s rights as an offender.
“If any inmate were to feel that he was not being treated fairly and justly, he has a right to approach these courts to seek redress. Many inmates do so and they’ve never been turned away by these courts.”
Masipa says Acting Correctional Services Commissioner Moleko Zac Modise has assured the court that Pistorius’s healthcare needs would be catered for.
“There was therefore no reason to think that the accused might be forced to terminate any of the treatment that he was currently receiving.”
The athlete’s family says he has accepted his fate.
CLOSURE
Judge Masipa says she hopes the sentencing will offer some closure to the Steenkamp family.
She took her time on Tuesday to explain the reasons behind her decision to sentence Pistorius to five years in prison.
She says it’s a delicate balance between the interests of the public and the interests of the accused.
The judge also considered the heartache and pain that Reeva’s death caused her family and friends.
“Nothing I say or do today can reverse what happened to the deceased and to her family. Hopefully this judgment on sentence shall provide some sort of closure for the family and for all concerned, so that they can move on with their lives.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will spend the next two weeks closely assessing Pistorius's conviction and sentence.
The NPA says it’s satisfied that the blade runner received a custodial sentence even though it was calling for 10 years behind bars.
The NPA’s Nathi Mncube however says they’re still not happy with the conviction.
“We were disappointed with the conviction on culpable homicide and we still maintain the same position. We have not made up our minds whether we’re going to appeal it or not.”
The state has 14 days to appeal while Pistorius’s legal team has the same amount of time to appeal the sentence.
But at this stage there’s no indication that they will choose that option.
STEENKAMP FAMILY ‘WANT TO GET ON WITH THEIR LIVES’
Reeva’s parents Barry and June say they now want to get on with their lives.
In an exclusive interview with Hello magazine, the Steenkamps say they believe the sentence was the best they could have expected.
June Steenkamp says the trial has been a terrible long journey and the sentence handed to the 27-year-old Paralympian was satisfactory.
She says her family is not looking for vengeance or for Pistorius to get hurt, but they’re happy he will be punished for what he has done.
She adds that while he may be released early, he may learn lessons in prison and that he cannot go around doing things like that.
Barry says he's relieved the trial is over and is looking forward to going home to his horses and the stable that he runs in Port Elizabeth.
June says she plans to carry on with her daughter’s wishes of setting up a refuge for abused women and will call it the Reeva Foundation in order to keep her name alive.
She says she wants to help the women that her daughter wanted to rescue.
Residents of Reeva’s hometown in Port Elizabeth have already called on the state to appeal Pistorius’s sentence.
Members of the Greenbushes community where the young model grew up, reacted disbelievingly to Judge Masipa’s ruling, with some even calling it 'a travesty of justice'.
Family friend Tyrone McLachlan says the NPA has no option but to appeal the sentence if justice is to be served.
“That type of sentence you give to a petty crime, a thief or something, not to a person that takes a life.”
He says that while the Steenkamp family have accepted the court’s ruling, the blade runner’s five-year sentence won’t allow them to truly move on with their lives.
“Reeva lost her life. How does a person get closure knowing that the person that murdered your child will be out in eight months’ time?”
He says the case would have had a different outcome if Pistorius wasn't famous or wealthy.
“It just goes to show money talks hey. The man took a life and the law says you can’t take a life.”
Source: Eye Witness News
Masipa sentenced the athlete to five years imprisonment, but in terms of the legislation, he is eligible to apply for correctional supervision after serving about eight months.
Pistorius was also given a three-year suspended sentence for a gun related charge in which he was found guilty of negligently discharging a firearm at the Tasha's restaurant.
The blade runner was found guilty of culpable homicide last month for the Valentine’s Day shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Judge Masipa says the Correctional Services Department is guided by the Constitution, which ensures Pistorius’s rights as an offender.
“If any inmate were to feel that he was not being treated fairly and justly, he has a right to approach these courts to seek redress. Many inmates do so and they’ve never been turned away by these courts.”
Masipa says Acting Correctional Services Commissioner Moleko Zac Modise has assured the court that Pistorius’s healthcare needs would be catered for.
“There was therefore no reason to think that the accused might be forced to terminate any of the treatment that he was currently receiving.”
The athlete’s family says he has accepted his fate.
CLOSURE
Judge Masipa says she hopes the sentencing will offer some closure to the Steenkamp family.
She took her time on Tuesday to explain the reasons behind her decision to sentence Pistorius to five years in prison.
She says it’s a delicate balance between the interests of the public and the interests of the accused.
The judge also considered the heartache and pain that Reeva’s death caused her family and friends.
“Nothing I say or do today can reverse what happened to the deceased and to her family. Hopefully this judgment on sentence shall provide some sort of closure for the family and for all concerned, so that they can move on with their lives.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will spend the next two weeks closely assessing Pistorius's conviction and sentence.
The NPA says it’s satisfied that the blade runner received a custodial sentence even though it was calling for 10 years behind bars.
The NPA’s Nathi Mncube however says they’re still not happy with the conviction.
“We were disappointed with the conviction on culpable homicide and we still maintain the same position. We have not made up our minds whether we’re going to appeal it or not.”
The state has 14 days to appeal while Pistorius’s legal team has the same amount of time to appeal the sentence.
But at this stage there’s no indication that they will choose that option.
STEENKAMP FAMILY ‘WANT TO GET ON WITH THEIR LIVES’
Reeva’s parents Barry and June say they now want to get on with their lives.
In an exclusive interview with Hello magazine, the Steenkamps say they believe the sentence was the best they could have expected.
June Steenkamp says the trial has been a terrible long journey and the sentence handed to the 27-year-old Paralympian was satisfactory.
She says her family is not looking for vengeance or for Pistorius to get hurt, but they’re happy he will be punished for what he has done.
She adds that while he may be released early, he may learn lessons in prison and that he cannot go around doing things like that.
Barry says he's relieved the trial is over and is looking forward to going home to his horses and the stable that he runs in Port Elizabeth.
June says she plans to carry on with her daughter’s wishes of setting up a refuge for abused women and will call it the Reeva Foundation in order to keep her name alive.
She says she wants to help the women that her daughter wanted to rescue.
Residents of Reeva’s hometown in Port Elizabeth have already called on the state to appeal Pistorius’s sentence.
Members of the Greenbushes community where the young model grew up, reacted disbelievingly to Judge Masipa’s ruling, with some even calling it 'a travesty of justice'.
Family friend Tyrone McLachlan says the NPA has no option but to appeal the sentence if justice is to be served.
“That type of sentence you give to a petty crime, a thief or something, not to a person that takes a life.”
He says that while the Steenkamp family have accepted the court’s ruling, the blade runner’s five-year sentence won’t allow them to truly move on with their lives.
“Reeva lost her life. How does a person get closure knowing that the person that murdered your child will be out in eight months’ time?”
He says the case would have had a different outcome if Pistorius wasn't famous or wealthy.
“It just goes to show money talks hey. The man took a life and the law says you can’t take a life.”
Source: Eye Witness News
